Manufacture of shoes



June 19, 1928.

. 1,674,059. A. F. PYM

MANUFACTURE OF SHOES Filed March 10, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet ,l

pvt/EN ER June '19, 1928.

I an? E Min //V l/E N TUE 3 Sheets-Sheet, 2

June 19, 1928. 1,674,059

' A. F. PYM

MANUFACTURE OF SHOES Filqd March 10, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June19, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIc-E.

ARTHUR F. PYM, OF MARBLEHEAD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOEMACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY.

MANUFACTURE OF SHOES.

Application filed March 10, 1924. Serial No. 698,099.

This invention relates to the manufacture of shoes, and has for one ofits principal objects to provide a better method and better means thanheretofore for positioning a last and its shoe materials relatively tomeans that operates upon the materials. The in vention is hereinillustrated in its application to the toe lasting operation, for whichit has very important advantages, but it will be recognized that in manyof its aspects the invention is not limited to that particular part ofshoe manufacture.

In lasting the toe of a shoe" by the use of toe-embracing wipers shapedto conform substantially to the contour of the toe, satisfactory resultsrequire a high degree of accuracy in the positioning of the shoe and thewipers relatively to each other. In lasting machines of the bed type,for example, the shoe is usually held firmly in position for lasting byshoe positioning means comprising a heel support, a toe rest and aholddown, and one or more of the elements of the shoe positioning meansmust be adjusted by the operator in accordance with the style and thesize of the shoe and in accordance with whether the shoe is a right or aleft. Thereafter the wipers also must be adjusted in various ways, asdetermined principally by trial, so that when they are advanced andclosed they will conform accurately to the contour of the shoe and willwipe the upper over the last and the insole with adequate pressures ondifferent portions of the shoe. All these adjustments require much ofthe operators time, and the quality of the results obtained depends alsolargely upon the operators care and judgment, since there is nothingaffording any very definite indication of what relation between thedifferent parts is the best for the work in hand. Moreover, even afterthe machine has been adjusted for a particular line of shoes, no two ofthe shoes are likely to be clamped and held in exactly the sameposition, so that the operator must keep the matter of adjustmentconstantly in mind and must frequently make one or more readjustments tomeet the requirements of particular shoes.

The present invention aims, in one important aspect, to do away withsuch lack of uniformity and such deviations from the ideal standard ofworkmanship as have been almost inevitable heretofore even with the bestoperators, while eliminating the need for a high degree of skill on thepart of the operator, and at the same time great-1y to increase thespeed of the work, as well as to simplify the construction of themachinery. T o accomplish this the invention provides'a novel method andmeans for positioning the last and its shoe materials in a quick andaccurate manner by the interengagement, in a novel cooperative relation,of a last posi tioning surface on the machine in predetermined relationto the means that operates on the shoe and a positioning surface on thelast bearing a correspondingly predetermined re lation to the contour ofthe shoe. One very important requirement for satisfactory results in toelasting is that the edges of the wipers, as the wipers are advanced andclosed about the toe, shall substantially fit the con- 7 tour of the toeat what may be termed the critical point in the lasting operation,namely that point where the wipers are in position to begin to wipe theupper materials inwardly over the bottom of the last. By the presentinvention, in accordance with the manner of carrying it into effectherein illus-' .trate-d, accuracy in this respect is insured,

independently of any particular care or attention on the operators part,by providing a last positioning hole in the bottom of the forcpart ofthe last and by utilizing a pin to position the last by engaging it insaid hole, the hole bearing the same predetermined relation to thecontour of the lateral periphery of the toe that the pin as positionedin the machine bears to the edges of the wipers when the wipers are inposition for their edges to conform to the contour of the toe. As hereinillustrated the pin is mounted on a holddown member against which theshoe is clamped and supported by means of a toe rest to hold it againstthe lit shoe into the right. position. This has the advantage that itserves further to relieve the operator of the necessity for exercisingany special care in presenting the work, while permitting the use ofvery simple means to accomplish the desired results. If the invention isutilized in operating on work where the upper is to be lasted over aninsole on the bottom of the last, the insole will be provided with ahole in position to register with the hole in the last when the insoleis properly ositioned on the last, as more fully hereina ter explained.

A further important requirement for succcssful results in some shoemanufacturing operations is that there be a proper angular relationbetween the bottom face of the last and the means that operates on thework. In toe lasting, for example, the wipers should operate to overwipethe upper in a plane substantially or approximately parallel to thebottom face of the toe portion of the last, although it may bepreferable on same work that the wipers operate in such relation to theshoe as to wipe the upper inwardly with relatively greater pressure inone or more locations, for example at the end of the toe or at the outerside of the toe. The present invention further provides that in thisrespect, as well as in the others hereinbcfore set forth, the lastandits shoe will be accurately positioned without the exercise of anyspecial care on the part of the workman. As herein exemplified, theangular relation between the bottom face of the last and the operatingmeans, i. e., the wipers. is determined principally by the pin incooperation with the hole in the last, and for this and other purposesthe pin is of substantially the same diameter as the hole and the latteris formed with reference to an axis so determined as to position thelast at the angle desired, having regard to the relation that the axisof the pin, as determined by the machine, bears to the plane of thewipers. To assist in determining the relation of the bottom face of thelast to the plane of the wipers further positioning surfaces also may beprovided. As herein illustrated a metal bushing inserted in the last toserve as a hearing member for the pin is provided with a flange havingits outer end face so formed as to serve as a positioning surface incooperation with a corresponding positioning surface on the holddownmember. This surface on the holddown member may be. for example,parallel to the plane of the wipers, and it will be understood that theend face of the bushing will be in the same angular relation to the axisof the hole in the last that this surface on the holddown member bearsto the axis of the pin. The shoe will thus be supported with the insolebetween these two positioning surfaces, and it will be evident that inthis way the height of the shoe relatively to the wipers will likewisebe accurately determined.

One manner of practicing the novel method of this invention, and variousnovel features of means that may be utilized in practicing the method,will now be more particularly set forth by reference to the accompanyingdrawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a side elevation of a toe lasting machine that may be utilizedin practicing the method of the invention and in which novel features ofthe invention are embodied;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the toe of a shoe before lasting,together with a portion of the holddown partially inverted to show itsconstruction more clearly;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the forepart of the last, illustratingdiagrammatically one way in which the location of the hole in the lastmay be determined;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the forepart of a last like that of Fig.5 with the shoe materials shown in lasted condition; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are longitudinal sections through alternative forms ofinsoles.

The machine comprises a base 2 having upwardly extending spaced arms 4on the outer ends of which are pivoted at 6 a pair of arms 8 which areformed as extensions of a wiper head 10. The wiper head 10 carriestoe-embracing wipers 12, as will bemore particularly explained, and thehead 10 is connected by a link 14 to a double-acting treadle 16 wherebythe head may be swung upwardly about its pivots (3 to cause the wipersto wipe the upper ot the shoe heightwise of the toe, and may be swungdownwardly to increase the pressure of the wipers on the upper after theupper has been wiped inwardly over the feather of the insole. The weightof the head 10 and the parts supported thereon positions the treadle 16initially. in engagement with an adjustable stop screw 18, and anadditional stop screw 20 also is provided to limit adjustahly theupwiping movement of the wipers so as to afford the operator a definiteindication of the proper position of the wipers for the overwi 'iingoperation.

The wipers 12 are detachahly secured to wiper holders 22 which aremounted on an extension 24 of a sleeve 26 (Fig. 3) guided for lengthwisemovement in the head 10. The extension 24 is provided with an arcuateguideway, and the wiper holders 22 have cooperating guide ribs 28, soarranged that the wipers have closing movements laterally of the shoeabout a center or axis located substantially at the meeting point of theedges of the wipers at the end of the toe. For imparting the closingmovements to the wipers the wiper holders 22 are provided with rackteeth 30 in engagement with pinions 32 which are operated by a doublerack member 34 connected by a pin 36 to a wiper closing sleeve 38 guidedin the sleeve 26.

The wiper closing sleeve 38 is operated yieldingly by a plunger 40slidingly mounted in a bushing 42 and in a cylindrical recess 44 in thesleeve 38, the plunger being arranged to impart forward movement to thesleeve through a comparatively stiff spring 46 which engages at one enda shoulder on the plunger and at the other end an adjustable bushing 48which is threaded in the sleeve 38. The bushing 48 is splined on theplunger 40, so that by turning the plunger, as by use of a knurled head50, the bushing is adjusted to change as desired the compression of thesprin 46. The wipers are thus permitted to yield, for example inupwiping the toe. To limit the extent to which they may yield, in orderto provide for adequate overwiping pressure, lock nuts 52 on the plunger40 are arranged to engage the bushing 42. i The plunger 40 is operatedby a hand lever 54 pivoted at 56 on the head 10, the leverbeingconnected by a link 58 to anut 60 (Fig. 3) which is threaded on a sleeve62 mounted on the plunger 40 between the head 50 and a fixed washer 64.The threaded sleeve 62 may thus be utilized to adjust the plunger 40 toswing the wipers about their center without advancing them, and therebyto determine their proper starting position, the sleeve being heldnormally from turning by means of a friction member 66 (Fig. 2).

The hand lever 54 is utilized to advance the wipers lengthwise of theshoe as well as to close them. and for this purpose it is connected by alink 68, pivoted at 70 on an extension of thelever. to a lever 72 whichis pivoted at 7 4 on the head 10 and is connected in turn to the wiperadvancing sleeve 26. The connections between the lever 72 and the sleeve26 comprise a block 76 secured to the sleeve 26 and guided in a slot 78in thehead 10, this block having thereon a pin 80 which carries abearing block 82 slidably mounted in a slot in the end of the lever 72.It will be evident that as the hand lever 54 is operated to advance theplunger 40 and thus to impart swinging movements to the WlPBIStO closethem laterally of the toe. it also serves through the connectionsdescribed to impart to the sleeve 26 wiper-advancing movement the extentof which bears a predetermined relation to the extent of the closingmovement of the wipers.

It is usually desired, particularly on welt work, to wipethe upperinwardly for the same distance from the edge of the shoe bot- .tom atthe sides of the toe as at the end of the toe. It is, moreover, awell-known fact that to accomplish this result a different extent ofangular swinging movement of the wipers, for the same extent of bodilyadvancing movement, is required for toes of materially different shapes,for example for pointed toes as compared with blunt toes. It isaccordingly desirable to vary relatively the rates of the advancing andclosing movements of the wipers, and the machine herein shown isprovided with means whereby such a variation may be convenientlyeffected. To this end, there is provided means for adjuting the link 68lengthwise of the lever 72 to change the effective length of this lever.It will be seen by reference to Fig. 2 that the link 68 is connected bya pivot pin 83 to a block 84 slidably mounted in a curved slot 86 in thelever 72. On the head of the pin 83 is a slide 87 mounted in a guidewayextending transversely of a block 7 88 which is mounted on an adjustingscrew 90 swiveled in bearing members 92 on the lever 72. By turning thescrew 90 the link 68 may thus be swung about its pivot 70 and its pointof connection to the lever 72 adjusted lengthwise of the lever. It is desirablc that such an adjustment be made without affecting the positionof the wipers relatively to the shoe at the critical point in thelasting operation, that is, when the wipers are closed about the toe inposition to begin their overwiping movements, and accordingly theconstruction is so designed that with the Wipers in this position thecenter of curvature of the slot 86 in the lever 72 coincides with thepivotal axis 70 of the link 68. It will be evident that this adjustingmeans may be utilized not only to set the parts for wiping the upperinwardly to the same distance all round the toe, but also, if desired,for wiping it farther inwardly, for example, at the sides than at theendof the toe.

Novel features* of the wiper-operating means hereinabovc described areclaimed in a divisional application Serial No. 83,372, filed on January23, 1926.

For positioning the shoe relatively to the wipers a holddown arm 94 issecured to a bracket 96 which is fast on the frame of the machine, thisarm having integral therewith or fast thereon a holddown member 98which, in the construction shown, has a forwardly extending portion toengage the insole adjacent to its rib at the end of the toe and aprojection 100 for engaging the bottom.

face of the insole at a distance from the end of the toe, for example ator near the plane of the tip seam. The holddown is thus rigidlymaintained in a fixed position, and cooperating with it is a toe rest102 supported directly under the projection 100 by two parallel links104 and 106, the link 106-being extended to provide a lever armconnected by a link 108 to a treadle 110 which is normally upheld by aspring 112. Depression of the treadle 110 will thus raise the toe rest102 to clamp the shoe against the holddown. The treadle is maintained inany position to which it is depressed by means of a pawl 113 inengagement with ratchet teeth 114; on the frame, the pawl having atripping extension 116 which may be engaged by the operatorsfoot torelease the treadle.

For determining accurately the proper position of the last and the shoerelatively to the wipers and for supporting the work against the thrustof the wipers, the holddown member 98 is provided with a downwardlyextending pin 118, and the last is provided with a cooperating recess orhole 120 which, in the construction shown, is a hole formed in a metalbushing 122 tightly seated within a socket formed in the wooden last ato receive it. To accomplish the desired result, the hole 120 in thelast should hear the same relation to the contour of the toe of the shoe(i. e., the toe of the last with suitable allowance, it may be, for thethickness of the upper materials) that the pin 118 bears to the edges ofthe wipers when these edges are in position substantially to fit saidcontour. The wipers are formed, as usual, so that their edges willsubstantially fit the contour of the too when they are properly closedabout the toe, and there is thus a certain definite relation between thelast and the wipers which is the proper one at the critical point of thelastingoperation. As long as the proper relation is determined betweenthe wipers, the pin 118, and the hole 120 in the last, it is notnecessary that the pin be located precisely as shown in the drawings,but it is convenient and desirable to locate it, as illustrated, on whatmay be termed the median line A of the wipers, namely that line on whichthe meeting point of the wiper edges or the axis of their closingmovementtravels in the bodily advance of the wipers lengthwise of theshoe. With the location of the pin determined in relation to wipersformed to fit a particular style and size of last, one way ofdetermining the proper location for the hole in the last is to advanceand close the wipers about the toe of the last until they substantiallyfit the last, thus positioning the last relatively to the pin, or to amember located where the pin would be, and thereby indicating where thehole should he to receive the pin. The proper location for the hole in alast of any particular size and style having thus been determined, thehole will, of course, be in the same location in all lasts of that sizeand style.

As a practical matter, however, it may be preferable to determine thelocation for the hole directly from the contour of the last. It followsfrom what has been said with reference to the location of the pin thatthe hole may be variously located, provided the pin and the wipers arein corresponding relation to each other. It is preferable, however, thatthe hole be substantially equi' distant from the opposite sides of thelast, partly for the sake of facility in determining its location indifierent lasts and partly for the sake of symmetry and balance. Theproper location for the hole, relatively to the sides of the last may befound as illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 5, by taking the middlepoints of two lines C and 1), herein shown as parallel, extendingtransversely of the bottom of the last at arbitrarily selected distancesfrom the end of the toe to define the locus of what may be termed themedian line B of the torepart of the last. The axis of the hole 120 willthen be located on this line, or in predetermined relation to it, at aselected distance from the end of the toe. Having regard to the positionof the pin 118 on the machine, this distance from the end of the toe ofthe last will be the distance of the axis of the pin 118 from themeeting point of the edges of the wipers when the wipers are in fullyopen and retracted position, less the distance that the wipers mustadvance to bring said point to the edge of the shoe bottom. Forconvenience in changing from one size or style of shoe to another, it iscontemplated that the holes in the different lasts will be at the samedistance from the ends of the toes. In Fig. 5 the hole is shown aslocated at the point of intersection of the lines B and I), but it willbe evident that it is not essential that the hole be located on the line1). Moreover, as above intimated. the hole might be at one side of theline B if the pin were correspondingly positioned relatively to thewipers, although it is preferable, for the reasons stated, that the holebe substantially midway between the sides of the last.

The location of the hole in the last being thus determined in the mannerillustrated in Fig. 5, and the pin having a predetermined location inthe machine, preferably midway between the opposite sides of the wipermechanism, as shown, the wipers will be so designed for attachment tothe wiper holders that when they are advanced a predetermined distancetheir corresponding closing movement will bring them into position totit substantially the contour of the shoe at th opposite sides of thetoe. Conveniently this may he done by the use of a pattern having acenter line corresponding to the center line B of the last, the methodof designing and forming wipers by the use of such patterns being wellknown. The median line B of the last and the median line of the wiperswill then substantially coincide when the wipers are in position closelyto embrace the toe of the shoe at the edge of the shoe bottom. It willbe evident that the position of the line B on the last would varysomewhat as the positions of the lines C and D were varied, this beingimmaterial as long as the wipers are properly designed to correspond. V

It will be evident that the procedure above described for determiningthe location of the hole in the last has not taken into account anyparticular relation between the plane of the wipers and the bottom faceof the last. The pin will preferably fit closely in the hole in thelast, and with the position of the pin relatively to the wiperspredetermined, the relation of the last to the plane of the wipers withrespect to tipping movement about axes extending lengthwise andlaterally of the last will therefore be substantially determined by thedirection of the axis of the hole in the last. Generally speaking, thwipers should operate to wipe the upper inwardly over the insole in aplane substantially or approximately parallel to the bottom face of thetoe portion of the last. It is sometimes desired, however, that thewipers shall bear harder on the upper materials at the end of the toethan at the sides of the toe, or that they shall bear harder at theouter side of the toe than at the inner side. Such considerations willbe taken into account in boring the hole in the last to receive themetal bushing. The di rection of the hole may be, for example,perpendicular to a plane determined by three points on the bottom of thelast, one at the end of the toe and the others at the opposite sides ofthe toe respectively, or in any desired angular relation tothe planethus determined. i

It may be desirable to assist in determining the relation between thebottom face of the last and the plane of the wipers by the use ofanother positioning surface on the last, in cooperation, for example.with the holddown member 98, and for this purpose a surface 124 on theflanged head of the bushing 122 may conveniently be utilized incooperation with a surface on the projection 100 about the pin 118. Thelower face of the projection 100 will preferably be parallel to theplane of the wipers, and therefore perpendicular to the axis of the pinif the pin is perpendicular to this plane, and the surface 1% will inthat case be perpendicular toth axis of the hole 120 so as to lieparallel to the lower surface of the projection 100 when the last is inthe position determined by the direction of the hole. It may happen,therefore, that the surface 124 Will not be exactly parallel to thesurface of adjacent portions of the bottom of the last.,., It will beunderstood that when the shoeis pressed up against the holddown by thetoe rest 102. the projection 100, in 'cooperation with the surface 124of the bushing 122, will determine the height of the last relatively tothe wipers.

In order to position the work in the manner above explained, it isnecessary that the insole b be formed with a hole to register with thehole in the last. Such a hole in the insole should bear the samerelation to the edge contour of the insole that the hole in the lastbears to the edge contour of the last bottom, and the location of thehole in the insole may thus be readily determinedin the same manner asthe hole in the corresponding last. It will be evident that such a holein the insole will be of material assistance in positioning the insoleaccurately on the bottom of the last prior to the toe lasting operation.While the hole in the last should preferably be located at such adistance from the end of the toe that the pin will be positionedsubstantially opposite to the toe rest, where the machine is equippedwith a toe rest, this is not inconsistent with locating the hole, asshown, near enough to the end of the toe to bring the hole in the insolewell out of sight in the finished shoe and to position it substantiallybetween the ball and the toes of the foot where it will not be felt bythe wearer of the shoe. With the hole in the insole in such a location,it may be disregarded after the lasting operation, except perhaps inthat type of shoe in which a plastic filler is utilized, andin such casethe hole may be covered in various ways, if necessary, to keep thefiller from working into the interior of the shoe. For example, a pieceof canvas 0 (Fig. 6) may be applied over the hole on the bottom face ofthe insole, or the hole may be tapered from the bottom face oft-heinsole inwardly and a tapered plug d inserted, as illustrated in Fig. 7.Alternatively a flap 2 having a tapered plu thereon may be turned up informing t e hole (Fig. 8), and this flap turned down again after thelasting operation. Experience, however, has shown that it is practicalto utilize a hole so small that it is unnecessary to cover or plug it inorder to prevent the filler from working through.

From the foregoing description it will be "understood that by thepresent invention the operator of the lasting machine is relieved ofpractically all concern as to the positioning of the shoe and theadjustment of the wipers, and that the quality of the results is notdependent to any material extent on the care and judgment of theoperator in this respect. All that the operator has to do in positioningthe work is to mount the. last on the pin 118 andto raise the toe rest,-assurance being aiforded that, with such slight turning movement as thelast may receive in response to pressure of the wipers on the sides ofthe toe, the last will be in the right relation to the wipers forthebest results in the lasting operation. In changing from rights tolefts, or from one style of shoe to another, all that the operator needdo is to detach the wipers and substitute those that are speciallydesigned for the line of shoes on which the machine is to operate, theholes in the different lasts having been so formed in relation to thecorresponding wipers and to the pin 118 that the shoes will bepositioned in the right relation to their wipers.

It will be understood that in the use of the particular machine shown,the wipers will be advanced and closed about the toe by the use of thehand lever 54 and will then be raised to wipe the upper heightwise ofthe toe by the use of the treadle 16. When the stop 20 indicates thatthe wipers meat the proper height to begin the overwiping operation,they will be further advanced and closed by the use of the hand lever54, and may then be depressed by the treadle to increase their pressureon the bottom of the shoe. Thereafter the upper will be fastened inlasted position by a toe binding wire or by other means in accordancewith the common practice.

Another advantage in positioning the work in the manner hereinillustrated is that, with the pin closely fitting the hole in the last,the last will remain in the position in which it is presented even ifthe operator releases it before raising the toe rest. In theparticulariconstruction shown this is due to the fact that the center ofgravity of the shoe is at the rear of the pin and the shoe thus tends totip with a resulting cramping action on the pin. The operator is thusafforded greater freedom in the use of his hands for other purposes thanif he had to support the shoe until it was clamped.

While the invention is herein illustrated in its application to thelasting of welt shoes, it will be understood that it is not limited towelt shoe work. It will also be understood that, while the invention isillustrated by reference to a manually operated machine, it is not thuslimited, since it would have very important advantages as applied topower lasting where the operator has comparatively little opportunity tomake adjustments as determined by observation of the work in the courseof'the operation of the machine.

Having explained the nature of the invention and set forth fully how itmay be practiced, what I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent of the United States is:

1. That improvement in methods of positioning a last and its shoematerials in a lasting machine relatively to wipers that close about anend of the shoe and are shaped to conform substantially to the contourof the end of the shoe when they are closed into position to embrace theend of the shoe, which consists in determining on the bottom of the lastand on the machine respectively points that coincide when the last andthe wipers are in the relation that they assume with the wipers inposition to conform to the contour of the shoe, providing on the lastand on the machine in the locations tluisdetermined positioning surfacesextending respectively heightwise of the last and in a directiontransverse to the plane of the wipers, and positioning the lastrelatively to the wipers by engaging said positioning surfaces with eachother.

2. That improvement in methods of positioning a last and its shoematerials in a lasting machine relatively to wipers that close about anend of the shoe and are shaped to conform substantially to the contourof the end of the shoe when they are closed into position to embrace theend of the shoe, which consists in determining on the bottom of the lastand on the machine points that bear similar relations respectively tothe contour of the end of the shoe and to the edges of the wipers whenthe last and the wipers are in the relation that they assume with thewipers in position to conform to the contour of the shoe, providing atone of said points a positioning pin and at the othcrof said points acooperating hole to receive the pin, and positioning the last relativelyto the wipers by bringing said pin and hole into registry with eachother.

3. That movement in methods of positioning a last and its shoe materialsin a lasting machine relatively to wipers that close about the toe ofthe shoe and are shaped to conform substantially to the contour of thetoe when they are closed into position to embrace the toe, whichconsists in providing on the forepart of the last and on the machinepositioning surfaces extending heightwise of the last and transverselyof the plane of the wipers and so located as to bear similar relationsrespectively to the contour of the toe and to the edges of the wiperswhen the wipers are in position to conform to the contour of the toe,and positioning the last relatively to the wipers by engaging saidpositioning surfaces with each other.

4. That improvement in methods of positioning a last and its shoematerials in a lasting machine relatively to end-embracing wipers, whichconsists in providing the machine with a pin extending in predeterminedangular relation to the plane of the wipers, providing in the bottom ofthe last a hole of substantially the same diameter as said pin toreceive the pin with the axis of the hole extending in an angularrelation to the bottom face of the last determined with reference to therelation desired between said face and the plane of the wipers, andutilizing said pin and hole to position the last relatively to thewipers.

5. That improvement in methods of positioning a last and its shoematerials in a lasting machine relatively to toe-embracing wipers, whichconsists in providing the machine with a pin extending in predeterminedangular relation to the plane of the wipers, determining on the bottomof the forepart of the last a point in alinement with the axis of saidpin when the last and the wipers are in the relation that they assumewith the wipers embracing the toe at the edge of the shoe bottom,providing the last with a hole of substantially the same diameter assaid pin with its axis located at the point thus determined andextending in an angular relation to the bottom face of the forepart ofthe last determined with reference to the relation desired between saidface and the plane of the wipers, and utilizing said pin and hole topositlon the last relatively to the wipers.

6. That improvement in methods of positioning a last and its shoematerials in a lasting machine relatively to wipers that close about thetoe of the shoe and are shaped to conform substantially to the contourof the toe when they are closed into position to embrace the toe, whichconsists in determining on the machine the location of an axis extendingtransversely of the plane of the wipers, determining on the forepart ofthe last the location of an axis eoincident with the first-named axiswhen the last and the wipers are in the relation that they assume withthe wipers in position to conform to the contour of the toe, providingat one of said locations a positioning pin and at the other of saidlocations a cooperating hole of substantially the same diameter as saidpin to receive the pin, and positioning the last relatively to thewipers by bringing said pin and hole into registry with each other,

, 7. That improvement in methods of positioning a last and its shoematerials relatively to wipers that close about the toe of the shoe andare shaped to conform substantially to the contour of the toe when theyare closed into position to embrace the toe, which consists in providingin the bottom of the forepart of the last a positioning recess inpredetermined relation to the contour of the toe of the shoe, andengaging the last in said recess with a positioning pin so located as tobear the same relation to the edges of the wipers, when the wipers arein position to conform to the c ntour of the toe, that said recess bearsto said contour.

8. That improvement in methods of positioning relatively to each other alast with its shoe materials and wipers that close about an end of theshoe and are shaped to conform substantially to the contour of the shoewhen they are closed into position to embrace the end of the shoe, whichconsists in determining the location of a median line on the bottom ofthe last, providing wipers so designed that their median line willsubstantially coincide with said median line of the last when the wipersare closely embracing the end of the shoe at the edge of the shoebottom, forming a last positioning hole in the bottom of the last inpredetermined relation to its median line and at a predetermineddistance from the end of the last, and utilizing a positioning pin inthe same predetermined relation to the median line of the wipers toengage the last in'said hole and position itrelatively to the wipers.

9. That improvement in methods of positioning a last and its shoematerials relatively to wipers that close about the toe of the shoe andare shaped to conform substantially to the contour of the toe when theyare closed into position to embrace the toe, which consists in forming alast positioning hole in the bottom of the forepart of the last on aline that is substantially coincident with the median line of the wiperswhen the wipers are in position to conform to the contour of the toe atthe edge of the shoe bottom, providing a positioning pin at apredetermined point on the median line of the wipers for engaging thelast in said hole, and positioning the lastby said pin and hole whilepermitting the last to turn about the pin to bring its'holelocating lineinto substantial coincidence with the me dian line of the wipers whenthe wipers are closed about the toe.

10. That improvement in methods of lasting shoes with wipers that closeabout the toe and are shaped to conform substantially to the contour ofthe toe when they are closed into position to embrace the toe, whichconsists in mounti'ng a last for turning movement about an axis locatedin such relation to the contour of the toe and tothe wipers that thewipers as they are closed will substantially fit the contour of the toein one position of the last with reference to movement about said axis,bringing the last into that position by closing the wipers about thetoe, and operating the wipers to last the toe.

11. That improvement in methods of lasting shoes in a lasting machinewith wipers that close about the toe and are shaped to conformsubstantially to the contour of the toe when they are closed intoposition to embrace the toe, which consists in mounting the lastforturning movement about an axis in its forepart extending insubstantially perpendicular relation to the plane of the wipers and insuch relation to the contour of the toe' and to the edges of the wipersthat the wipers as they are closed will substantially fit the contour ofthe toe in one position of the last with reference to turning movementabout said axis, bringing the last into that position by closing thewipers about the toe, and operating the wipers to last the toe.

12. That improvement in methods of lasting shoes in a lasting machinewith wipers that close about the toe and are shaped to conformsubstantially to the contour of the toe when they are closed intoposition to embrace the toe, which consists in providing the machine andthe forepart of the last respectively with apivot pin and a hole toreeeive the pin with the pin and the hole so located relatively to theedges of the wipers and to the contour of the toe of the shoe that thewipers as they are closed will substantially fit said contour in oneposition of the last with reference to turning movement about the axisof said pin, bringing the last into that position by closing the wipersabout the toe, and operating the wipers to last the toe.

13. That improvement in methods of lasting welt shoes in a machinehaving wipers that close about the toe of the shoe and are shaped 'toconform substantially to the contour of the toe when they are closedinto position to embrace the toe, which consists in determining on thebottom of the forepart of the last and on the machine points thatcoincide when the last and the wipers are in the relation that theyassume with the wipers in position to conform to the contour of the shoeat the edge of the shoe bottom, providing at one of said points apositioning pin and at the other of said points a cooperating hole toreceive the pin, positioning the last relatively to the wipers bybringing said pin and hole into registry with each other, and thereafterclosing the wi ers about the toe and wiping the upper heightwise of thetoe and into the angle between the feather and the rib of the insole.

14. That improvement in methods of lasting shoes of different sizes orstyles which consists in providing last positioning holes in the bottomsof the different respective lasts on predetermined median lines and atequal distances from the ends of the different lasts, providingdifferent pairs of relatively movable end-embracing wipers having wipingedges formed substantially to fit the ends of the different styles andsizes of shoes and so designed that their median lines will besubstantially coincident with said median lines of the lasts when thewipers are closed about the ends of the shoes, and presenting thedifferent lasts and their shoe materials to their wipers by mountingthem on a positioning pin formed to engage the lasts in said holes andso positioned as to intersect the median line of any of the differentstyles or sizes of wipers.

15. That improvement in methods of positioning lasts of different sizesor styles in 21 lasting machine relatively to toe-embracing wipers,which consists in providing last positioning holes in the bottoms of theforeparts of the lasts at equal distances from the ends of the lastsirrespective of the size or style and in similar relations to the sidesof the different lasts, and positioning the lasts relatively to theirwipers by engaging them in said holes.

16. That improvement in methods of positioning lasts of different sizesor styles in a lasting machine relatively to toe-embracing wipers, whichconsists in providing last positioning holes in the bottoms of theforeparts of the lasts at equal distances from the ends of the lastsirrespective of the size or style and in similar relations to the sidesof the different lasts, and utilizing a positioning pin the operativelocation of which in the machine is invariable for the different sizesor styles of lasts to position the lasts by engaging them in said holes.

17. That improvement in methods of positioning a last and its shoematerials relatively to end-embracing wipers, which consists inutilizing a positioning pin to engage the last and substantially fitwithin a hole formed in the bottom of the last and determining by thedirection of said pin and hole the angular relation of the bottom faceof the last to the plane of the wipers.

18. That improvement in methods of positioning a last and its shoematerials relatively to end-embracing wipers, which consists inproviding a last positioning pin in predetermined relation to the edgecontour of the wipers and with its axis in predetermined angularrelation to the plane of the wipers, and providing in the bottom of thelast a hole to fit the pin located in predetermined relation to thecontour of the lateral periphery of the last with its axis at an angleto the bottom face of the last determined by reference to the angularrelation of the pin to the plane of the wipers to determine thereby therelation between said plane and the bottom face of the last.

19. That improvement in methods of positioning a last and its shoematerials relatively to end-embracing wipers, which consists inproviding onthe bottom portion of the last inside of the edge of thelast bottom positioning surfaces extending respectively heightwise ofthe last and in substantially or approximately parallel relation to itsbottom face, and providing in predetermined relation to the wiperspositioning means so formed as to cooperate with both said surfaces todetermine the relation of the bottom face of the last to the plane ofthe wipers.

20. That improvement in methods of positioning a last and its shoematerials in a lasting machine relatively to end-embracing wipers, whichconsists in mounting in the bottom of the last a bushing formed with alast positioning hole and having an end face in predetermined angularrelation to the axis of said hole, and determining the angular relationof the last to the plane of the wipers by positioning surfaces on themachine cooperating with the surfaces in said hole and on the end faceof the bushing.

21. That improvement in methods of positioning a last and its'shoematerials rela-. tively to means for operating on said materials, whichconsists in utilizing a member 'pro ect1ng within a recess. in thebottom ot the bottom of the last.

23. That improvement in methods of positioning a last and its-shoematerialsin a machine for operating on the forepart of the shoe, whichconsists in utilizing a pin fitting within a recess in the bottom of theforepart of the last and bearing a fixed angular relation both to thelast and to the machine to determine the angular relation of the planeof the bottom of the forepart of the last to the machine during theoperation of the machine. I

24. That improvement in methods of positionin-g a last and its shoematerials relatively to meansfor operating on said materials, whichconsists in mounting the last on a pin projecting into a recess in thebottom of the last in such relation to said recess and the last as tosupport the last if the workman releases it. i v

25. That improvement in methods of positioning a last and its shoematerials relatively to means for working the upper over the forepart ofthe last, which consists in forming a hole in the bottom of the forepartof the last, and mounting the last on a pin formed and positioned to fitsubstantially in said hole and to support the last independently of thehands of the workman.

26. In a machine for operating on shoe materials on a last, thecombination with means for operating on said materials, of lastpositioning means comprising a pin formed to enter a hole in the bottomof the last, means for positioning the pin in predetermined relation tosaid 0 erating means, and means for holding the ast in the positiondetermined by said pin and hole.

27. In a lasting machine, the combination with toe-embracing wipers, oflast and shoe positioning means comprising a pin formed to enter a holein the bottom of the forepart of the last, means for positioning saidpin in a relation to the wipers corresponding to the relation of thehole in the last to the contour of the last, and means for holding theshoe in the position determined by said pin and hole.

28. In a lasting machine, the combination with toe-embracing wipers, oflast and shoe positioning means comprising a pin mounted inpredetermined relation to the wipers and formed to enter a hole in thebottom of the forepart of the last, and a toe rest for holding the shoein position on said pin.

29. In a lasting machine, the combination with toe-embracing wipers, ofa holddown and a toe rest arranged to clamp and support a shoe betweenthem, and a pin positioned by said holddown and formed to en ter a holein the forepart of the last to determine the position of the lastrelatively to the wipers.

30. In a lasting machine, the combination with toe-embracing wipers, oflast and shoe positioning means comprising a stationary holddown and acooperating movable toe rest together with a pin positioned by saidholddown substantially opposite to the toe rest and formed to enter ahole in the bottom of the last.

31. In a lasting machine, the combinationwithend-embracing wipers, oflast and shoe positioning means comprising a member formed to projectthrough the insole and to engage a positioning surface on the last, anda support for maintaining the shoe in the position determined by saidmember.

32. In a lasting machine, the combination with toe-embracing wipersmounted to close about the toe of a shoe and having wiping edges formedsubstantially to fit the contour. of the toe, of means for positioning alast and its shoe materials for turning movement about an axis in itsforepart in such relation to the contour of the toe and to the Wipersthat pressure of the wipers about the toe will bring the shoe intoproper position for the wipers to fit said contour.

33. In a lasting machine, the combination with toe-embracing wipers, ofmeans comprising a pivot pin formed substantially to fit within a holein the bottom of the forepart of the last to mount the last for turningmovement about an axis in its forepart in response to closing pressuresof the wipers.

34. In a lasting machine, the combination with toe-embracing wipersmounted to close about the toe of a shoe and having wiping edges formedsubstantially to fit the contour of the toe, of means comprising a pivotpin formed substantially to fit within a hole in the bottom of theforepart of the last to mount the last for turning movement about anaxis in its forepart in response to closing pressures of the wipers, anda toe rest for supporting the shoe in position to turn about said axis.

35. In a lasting machine, the combination with end-embracing wipersmounted for closing movement's about an intermediate axis and foradvancing movement lengthwise ot' the last, of last and shoe positioningmeans comprising a pin formed to enter a hole in the bottom of the lastand positioned in line with the path of movement of the axis of thewipers in the advance of the wipers 36. In a lasting machine, thecombination with end-emlu'acing wipers, of last and shoe positioningmeans comprising a member formed to project through a hole in the insoleand to engage a positioning surface on the last to determine the angularrelation of the bottom face of the last to the plane of the wipers.

37. In a lasting machine, the combination with end-embracing wipers. oflast and shoe posititming means having positioning surfaces arranged inangular relation to each other to cooperate with the last in determiningthe angular relation of the shoe to the plane of the wipers, said meansincluding a member formed to project through a hole in the insole andsubstantially to lit in a hole formed in the bottom of the last with itsaxis in predetermined angular relation to the bottom face of the last.

38. In a lasting machine, the combination with end-embracing wipers, oflast and shoe positioning means comprising a pin formed to projectthrough the insole and to enter a hole in the bottom of the last, aholddown having a positioning surface disposed about said pin forengaging the insole to assist in determining the angular relation of theshoe to the plane of the wipers, and means cooperating with saidholddown to hold the shoe in the position thus determined.

39. In a lasting machine, the combination with endembracing wipers, oflast and shoe positioning means comprising a holddown having a pinformed to enter a. hole in the bottom of the last, said holddown havingalso a raised portion about said pin for engaging the insole to assistin determining the angular relation of the shoe to the plane of theWipers.

40. In a lasting machine, the combination with toe-embracing wipers, oflast and shoe positioning means comprising a holddmvn having a pinformed to enter a hole in the bottom of the forepart of the last, saidholddown having a raised portion adjacent to said pin for engaging theinsole to assist in determining the angular relation of the shoe to theplane of the wipers and also a forwardly projecting portion for engagingthe insole near the toe end of the last.

41. The combination of toeemlu'acing wipers having wiping edges formedsubstan tially to fit the contour of the toe. of a shoe when they areclosed about the toe. a last positioning pin. means for positioning saidpin in predetermined relation to the edges of the wipers with its axissubshmtiall perpendicular to the plane of the wipers, and a last havingin the bottom of its forepart a hole formed to receive said pin and solocated as to bear the same relation to the contour of the toe that thepin bears to the edges of the wipers when the wipers are closed aboutthe toe.

42. The combination of toe-embracing wipers, a last positioning pin,means for positioning said pin in predetermined relation to :the edgesof the wipers with its axis suhstantially perpendicular to the plane ofthe wipers, and a last having in the bottom of its forepart a hole ofsubstantially the same diameter as said pin to receive the pin anddetermine thereby the angular relation of the bottom face of theforepart of the last to the plane of the wipers.

43. The combination of toe-embracing wipers having wiping edges formedsubstantially to fit the contour of the toe of a. shoe when they areclosed about the too, a last positioning pin mounted in predeterminedrelation to the edges of said wipers, and a last having in the bottom ofits torepart a hole of substantially the same diameter as said pin toreceive the pin and so located as to bear the same relation to thecontour of the toe that the pin bears to the edges of the wipers whenthe wipers are closed about the toe.

44. That improvement in methods of making shoes which consists indetermining the location of a hole in the bottom of the forepart of alast by reference to the middle points of lines extending across theforepart of the last, determining in the same manner the location of ahole in the forepart of an insole, forming the holes in the last and theinsole in the locations thus determined, and positioning the insole onthe last by alining said holes with each other.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ARTHUR F. PYM.

